Compare towns
Ashland vs Needham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashland | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.